The renal function in healthy man with salt and water depletion (natriuretic pretreatment) associated with adrenergic blocking agents administration was explored during steady hypotonic polyuria. Four 15 min clearance (cl.) periods, before, during and after dopamine (DA) infusion in a subpressor dose, were performed. The 9 subjects treated with prazosin showed different renal hemodynamic responses in the early stage of DA infusion i.e. hyperemic (6 subjects, subgroup A) or ischemic (3 subjects, subgroup B). The whole group of 6 subjects treated with propranolol showed an hyperemic response DA infusion. A natriuretic effect and a trend towards tubular sodium reabsorption inhibition, in particular at the diluting segment level, were associated with the DA vasodilatory responses. The ischemic responses to DA occurred in the presence of incomplete alpha-adrenergic receptors blockade; nevertheless in the same circumstances DA failed to increase the diluting segment sodium reabsorption.